18 Day Serengeti, Masai Mara & Uganda Small Group Tour

Welcome to Kenya! On your arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) you will be met by a local representative in the arrivals hall and transferred to your hotel for relaxation and overnight.

After breakfast, meet your local Kenyan guide and fellow travellers for a tour briefing before we depart for Amboseli National Park, your home for the next two nights. Dominated by the magnificent presence of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain at 5,895 metres, Amboseli is one of Kenya’s oldest and most famed parks. Although not as large as Masai Mara National Reserve, Amboseli is known for its great herds of elephants, cheetah, and unique terrain dotted with emerald-green swamps. 

This afternoon, enjoy a game drive where your guide will introduce you to the park, the swamps and say hello to its inhabitants before we return back to the lodge for an included dinner.

Our itinerary for today takes us to the renowned Amboseli National Park, where we will embark on an exhilarating full day of wildlife observation. This park holds great fame within Kenya and is particularly renowned for its impressive population of majestic elephant bulls, adorned with remarkable tusks. Capture the ultimate safari moment as you witness these magnificent creatures against the breathtaking backdrop of Mount Kilimanjaro, its snow-capped peak adding a touch of awe-inspiring beauty to the scene.

Following a relaxed breakfast, we commence our journey towards the border and proceed onward to Arusha, known as the gateway to the esteemed Kilimanjaro National Park. Enjoy lunch along the way and upon our arrival, we will check into our hotel, where the rest of the evening is at leisure to unwind and prepare for tomorrow’s safari at Tarangire National Park. 

Please note that there will be a change of both guide and vehicle at the border as we enter Tanzania.

Following breakfast,  we set out for Tarangire National Park, where we will indulge in a full day of thrilling game drives. Prepare to be enchanted by the awe-inspiring vistas of the Maasai Steppe and the majestic mountains in the southern horizon, creating a mesmerising backdrop during our visit to Tarangire. This national park is renowned for its remarkable population of elephants and the iconic baobab trees that dot its landscape. It also serves as a pivotal location within an annual migratory cycle, attracting a multitude of wildlife, including up to 3,000 elephants, 25,000 wildebeest, and 30,000 zebras. 

As the day draws to a close, we will make our way to our accommodation for the evening where we can relax and unwind, immersing ourselves in the beauty of the natural surroundings.

Following breakfast, we begin our journey towards Lake Manyara National Park. This remarkable reserve is situated at the northwestern edge of Lake Manyara, a soda lake nestled at the base of the western escarpment of the Great Rift Valley. Our drive through the park will treat us to breathtaking scenery, renowned not only for its vast flocks of vibrant flamingos but also for the elusive sight of tree-climbing lions, adding an element of intrigue and excitement to our adventure. 

Following this we make our way to the charming village of Karatu, where we will spend the night. Take this time to unwind and reflect on the incredible experiences of the day, anticipating the adventures that lie ahead.

Today, we begin our day with an early departure to embark on a thrilling game drive in the iconic Ngorongoro Crater, renowned worldwide for its extraordinary wildlife encounters. For many, this awe-inspiring natural wonder stands as the pinnacle of their safari experience. The crater boasts the entire 'Big 5' group of animals, including a small population of the critically endangered black rhino. The diverse range of wildlife and the breathtaking scenery make this an unforgettable adventure.

After enjoying a delightful picnic lunch amidst the beauty of the crater, we proceed towards the Serengeti, we traverse the breathtaking central Plains, which epitomise the iconic landscapes the park is famous for. Picture endless undulating grass savannahs punctuated by rugged outcrops that provide secluded havens for wildlife. Finally, we arrive at our tented camp, nestled in the heart of this remarkable wilderness, where you will find comfort and tranquillity during your stay.

The legendary Serengeti is our playground today with a full day game drive through the vast rolling plain whose sparse vegetation allows for some of the best wildlife viewing in the world. The Serengeti is best known for the largest annual animal migration in the world of over 1.5 million blue wildebeest and 250,000 zebra along with smaller herds of Thomson's gazelle (the complete migration route is around 800 km), but throughout the year, the Serengeti is excellent for lion (the park is also home to the largest lion population in Africa), leopard and cheetah, elephant, giraffe, hyena, hippo, and rhino spotting, and many varieties of antelopes and birds.

Get ready for another thrilling day of adventure as we continue our exploration of the magnificent Serengeti National Park. Equipped with lunch boxes to keep us energised, we embark on captivating game drives throughout the afternoon. As we traverse the vast and boundless plains, our eyes are treated to a spectacle of wildlife sightings, reaffirming the well-deserved fame of this extraordinary national park. Marvel at the diverse array of animals that roam these lands, and immerse yourself in the sheer beauty of the Serengeti.

As the sun begins its descent, we make our way back to the lodge, filled with unforgettable memories and stories to share. Rest and rejuvenate overnight, ready to embrace the wonders that await us on the next leg of our journey.

After breakfast, we’ll drive to the Serengeti and Masai Mara border where we’ll experience the magic of the Masai Mara Game Reserve for the next two days. We’ll have the opportunity to spot the ‘Big Five’: lion, rhino, buffalo, leopard and elephant, and we may get to witness the wildebeest migration from Serengeti Park into Masai Mara. 

Please note that there will be a change of guide and vehicle at the border crossing into Kenya.

Today, we embark on an exhilarating full-day adventure immersed in the renowned Masai Mara National Park. This iconic wildlife sanctuary offers an abundance of diverse habitats that serve as a haven for a wide array of game species. Prepare to be captivated as we seek to encounter magnificent creatures such as lions, leopards, and cheetahs in their natural habitat. The sweeping landscapes of the Masai Mara are also home to an impressive range of wildlife, including zebras, wildebeest (gnu), giraffes, buffalos, jackals, topis, gazelles, impalas, and elephants.

As we navigate the park's lush plains and traverse its meandering rivers, we are likely to encounter a multitude of hippopotamuses and crocodiles, adding to the wildlife spectacle. Keep your eyes trained on the skies as well, for the birdlife in this area is incredibly abundant, offering opportunities to spot a wide variety of avian species.

After breakfast, we’ll begin the journey back to Nairobi. When we arrive, we’ll have lunch and check-in to the hotel and spend the rest of the afternoon at your own leisure.

This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your included flight to Entebbe in Uganda. 

Welcome to Uganda!
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your guesthouse, set in a quiet residential neighbourhood with beautiful gardens. The elegant rooms are all equipped with private en-suite, ceiling fan, mosquito nets, and large comfortable patio chairs overlooking the gardens. 

Relax this evening with an included dinner at the hotel. 

After breakfast meet your guide and head towards Queen Elizabeth National Park. En-route, stopover at the Uganda equator crossing for a requisite snapshot and lunch before continuing to Queen Elizabeth National Park. 

The oldest and second largest park in Uganda is located at the base of the massive Rwenzori Mountains, covered by savannah plains that provide an abundance of game viewing. Depending on your arrival time and how you will be feeling, you can optionally indulge in a game drive where you can expect to see lazy leopards laying in the sun, abundant gazelle, elephants, lions, buffaloes, hippos and more.

Your accommodation this evening is perched on the edge of the escarpment overlooking the Queen Elizabeth National Park and offers the quintessential safari lodge experience. Stay in a spacious canvas tent under a permanent grass-thatched roof. Each room offers en-suite bathrooms with a spacious tub and, from the private veranda, you can overlook the park and the flat-topped acacia trees where the occasional elephants graze and wander by.

This morning you’ll enjoy a chimpanzee trekking excursion in either Kalinzu Forest or Kyambura Gorge forest. These tropical forests sit on a huge area of the Rift Valley floor and are a natural habitat of our delightful cousins, the chimpanzees. Other primates that can be encountered include the black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys and grey-cheeked mangabeys.

Return to the lodge for a sumptuous lunch, then take a boat safari along the Kazinga Channel — a natural channel which connects Lake Edward to Lake George. View buffaloes, elephants, waterbucks, crocodiles and the highest concentration of hippos, as well as a variety of colorful species of waterbirds like crested eagles, pelicans and cormorants. As an amazingly diverse collection of the African animal kingdom comes to the waterhole to drink or bathe, this will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of your tour.

Enjoy breakfast this morning before we make our way south travelling through the breathtaking evergreen mountain countryside to reach the magnificent swathe of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Check into your lodge and relax before your big day tomorrow.

Today is the big day! Prepare yourself for an encounter with Bwindi’s gentle giants: the rare mountain gorilla. For most people this is the absolute highlight of their tour in Uganda. 

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest boasts both mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. In fact, it’s the only forest in Africa which can make this claim. It also hosts five other species of primate, 113 species of mammal, over 200 butterflies and 360 birds.

To make the most of this experience, there will be an early start this morning for a briefing at the visitor’s reception centre about the park. Once you’ve been allocated guides, you’ll head into the forest in search of these magnificent animals. 

The gorillas you track belong to one of the habituated family group who can tolerate the presence of humans for a brief period every day. En-route, your guide will point out signs of previous gorilla activity including dung, nests and chewed bamboo shoots. Once the gorillas have been located, your group will be allowed a maximum of one hour with them. 

Trekking gorillas in the dense forest can sometimes be wet, muddy and uncomfortable. The terrain can be challenging; it can be pretty strenuous and often humid. But the sheer thrill in coming across a habituated group of gorillas, dominated by a great male silverback, more than outweighs any difficulty. You need to be prepared and fit enough to walk up to four hours – uphill and downhill.

What to wear:

• Boots – Essential. A good quality pair of hiking boots with good sturdy rubber soles with grip.
• Gloves – During the trek you might be grabbing trees, branches and vines, and your hands can get a bit scratched. Pack a tough old pair of gardening gloves.
• A light rain jacket – Bwindi is a tropical rainforest, and there’s a good chance of rain almost year-round. Pack a light-weight poncho or rain jacket that you can roll up in your bag and bring out if necessary. 
• Long pants and shirts – It’s best not to expose too much skin during the jungle trek, and remember to tuck your trousers into your socks (to avoid ants) and no bright colours.

This morning you will fly back to Entebbe. Upon arrival, day use at a guest house close by the airport has been booked to allow you to freshen up and make the most of your last day in Entebbe. After checking into your guesthouse, you may choose to explore the craft shops for some final souvenir shopping or simply relax before your included private transfer takes you to the airport from where you’ll catch your departure flight back to Nairobi this evening.  

Please Note: If booking a connecting flight from Nairobi on this day, all flights must be booked from 9pm onwards. If your flight departs prior to 9pm, we cannot guarantee your connection from Entebbe and recommend booking an additional night accommodation. Post tour accommodation information can be found under “Extra Services” and can be purchased at time of booking. Rates include breakfast PLUS return transfers from Nairobi Airport to the Boma Hotel.